Western or Vicious Cat?
In the article “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” Amy Chua discusses the difference between Chinese tiger mothers and western parents. These two styles have some similarities, though they mostly differ. One of the main differences being school habits and preparation. This includes study habits, summer school, and whether school should be seen as fun. The other difference covers extra activities, meaning what that wouldn’t usually be defined as school and classes. Similarities indeed lack, but do materialize.
When it comes to similarities, tiger parenting and western parenting certainly have some. Of course, they both expect their children to do well in school. Both expect their children to receive good grades and …show more content…
One main difference is the way they are prepared for school. For instance, a tiger parent might have their child doing a bunch of extra studying. Meiling Lee, a Taiwanese tiger parent, may sometimes spend upwards of $3,000 on tutoring per child on a monthly basis. Meiling says, “A good college is a passport to another world . . . it will decide your fate.” On the flip side, a western parent might not put their children through as rigorous studies. Cesar Lariva, western parent and Cal Poly Pomona professor, does what a western parent might do. Cesar does want the best for his children; he wants them to put effort in school. Though, unlike Meiling, Cesar does not spend extra money for tutors. He says “If they do well, that’s a reward in itself . . . if they don’t do well, I tell them to focus on the learning . . . learning for the joy of learning.” (Watanabe) There is still another difference in terms of how they are prepared for …show more content…
Kim Wong Keltner, tiger cub, did not do as she pleased. She says “a lot of kids who grew up like [herself] have no idea how to connect with other people. [She] never bonded with friends in endless games of kick-the-can or went to birthday parties or listlessly congregated in the halls with the "bad" kids. [They] knew better than to waste [their] time like that. (60) All of her activities were dictated by her parents; her mother decided her daily schedule. She says she ended up acting like a robot who wastes no time. [Keltner] A western child likely will be free to do as they please. Throughout summer break, Lariva’s children are not stuck studying. Instead, they are playing sports, visiting art galleries, and volunteering at libraries. According to Lariva, children “need their childhood… it’s a huge concern of [his], the lack of balance from pushing them too hard.” (Watanabe) Yet another difference comes in the form of repetition and music. Amy Chua would make her daughters practice instruments for up to three hours on a daily basis. According to Chua, “[her Western friends . . . make their children practice their instruments 30 minutes every day . . . for a Chinese mother, the first hour is the easy part. It’s hours two and three that get tough.” (53) Western parents are less likely to make their children practice instruments and for a shorter amount of
In the article “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” Amy Chua discusses the difference between Chinese tiger mothers and western parents. These two styles have some similarities, though they mostly differ. One of the main differences being school habits and preparation. This includes study habits, summer school, and whether school should be seen as fun. The other difference covers extra activities, meaning what that wouldn’t usually be defined as school and classes. Similarities indeed lack, but do materialize.
When it comes to similarities, tiger parenting and western parenting certainly have some. Of course, they both expect their children to do well in school. Both expect their children to receive good grades and …show more content…
One main difference is the way they are prepared for school. For instance, a tiger parent might have their child doing a bunch of extra studying. Meiling Lee, a Taiwanese tiger parent, may sometimes spend upwards of $3,000 on tutoring per child on a monthly basis. Meiling says, “A good college is a passport to another world . . . it will decide your fate.” On the flip side, a western parent might not put their children through as rigorous studies. Cesar Lariva, western parent and Cal Poly Pomona professor, does what a western parent might do. Cesar does want the best for his children; he wants them to put effort in school. Though, unlike Meiling, Cesar does not spend extra money for tutors. He says “If they do well, that’s a reward in itself . . . if they don’t do well, I tell them to focus on the learning . . . learning for the joy of learning.” (Watanabe) There is still another difference in terms of how they are prepared for …show more content…
Kim Wong Keltner, tiger cub, did not do as she pleased. She says “a lot of kids who grew up like [herself] have no idea how to connect with other people. [She] never bonded with friends in endless games of kick-the-can or went to birthday parties or listlessly congregated in the halls with the "bad" kids. [They] knew better than to waste [their] time like that. (60) All of her activities were dictated by her parents; her mother decided her daily schedule. She says she ended up acting like a robot who wastes no time. [Keltner] A western child likely will be free to do as they please. Throughout summer break, Lariva’s children are not stuck studying. Instead, they are playing sports, visiting art galleries, and volunteering at libraries. According to Lariva, children “need their childhood… it’s a huge concern of [his], the lack of balance from pushing them too hard.” (Watanabe) Yet another difference comes in the form of repetition and music. Amy Chua would make her daughters practice instruments for up to three hours on a daily basis. According to Chua, “[her Western friends . . . make their children practice their instruments 30 minutes every day . . . for a Chinese mother, the first hour is the easy part. It’s hours two and three that get tough.” (53) Western parents are less likely to make their children practice instruments and for a shorter amount of